The Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission, formerly chaired by
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, unanimously voted Wednesday night to oppose the Mt.
Vernon site for a new convention center  which Evans has championed since 1991. In a
well-reasoned, detailed resolution which fully analyzed the issue, the ANC called for
further study of the Union Station alternative which experts say could save the city
hundreds of millions of dollars.

Commissioners pointed to escalating costs, which have doubled since the Mt. Vernon
project was proposed  as well as new reports that further public subsidies are being
sought in connection with the project. At a Council hearing on Monday, the Washington
Convention Center Authority proposed that another $55 million in public highway funds,
economic development dollars, and transportation monies be funneled into the project.

"This boondoggle gets bigger every day," said Gastrel Riley of the Shaw
Coalition. "The taxpayers are being robbed to pay for a white elephant that is only
meant to subsidize the big business boys downtown." The Shaw Coalition joined other
groups in calling for a new hearing on the costs of the proposed convention center and new
public subsidies for the project.

Meanwhile, a coalition of 21 civic organizations in Ward 7 voted unanimously to oppose
the Mt. Vernon site for the convention center. "It is indeed unfortunate that a
majority of the City Council member have again exercised flawed judgment in support of a
project which is obviously doomed from the outset," said the resolution of the Far
Northeast-Southeast Council, Inc., founded in 1932. "The residents of the City are
again being 'sold-out' to the highest bidders..."

The Far Northeast-Southeast Council represents the Benning Ridge Civic Assoc., the
Capitol View Civic Assoc., the Deanwood Civic Assoc., the Marshall Heights Civic Assoc.,
the Northeast Boundary Civic Assoc., the Dupont Park Civic Assoc., the Penn Taylor
Coalition of Civic Organizations, the Area 18 Planning Council, and others In addition,
the Ward 7 Citizens Reform Coalition, Concerned Citizens of Ward 7, the Fort Dupont Civic
Assoc., and the River Terrace Civic Assoc. signed on to the Far Northeast-Southeast
Council resolution. The Council can be reached at (202) 388-3843